Dolly Parton: I knew I'd be married 50 years

Dolly Parton always knew she'd be married for 50 years.

The '9 to 5' hitmaker and her husband Carl Dean, 73, celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary on January 19 and the country singer says she "never doubted" that they would reach the milestone - as long as they were both alive.

The 70-year-old star said: "I feel lucky and blessed. I never doubted for a minute that we [my husband and I] would be married 50 years as long as we were both alive. Carl is my husband and my best friend so we have had a solid foundation to deal with all of the craziness that comes with a performing career."

The couple renewed their vows on the eve of their anniversary last month and will also celebrate their five-decade marriage in May with a star-studded party at her grand 60-acre estate at Willow Lake outside Nashville, Tennessee.

Although Dolly - who is one of 11 children - doesn't have kids, she is looking forward to playing host to her extended family and says they are at the centre of everything that she does.

She told the Daily Telegraph: "My family will always be my greatest love. Sometimes it gets lost in the shuffle but there's an element of family in everything I do. My music is shaped by my family. My theme park, Dollywood, and my show Dixie Stampede are about giving families an opportunity to be together and have fun."